Golden Falcons escape rival

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 28, 2009 1:46 PM

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Archrivals Charles B. Aycock and Eastern Wayne staged another classic during their decades-long series on the wrestling mat Tuesday evening.

The intense- and emotion-filled contest left both teams exhausted and Warriors head coach Mike Brown fuming once the Golden Falcons secured a 42-33 victory.

Brown's ire stemmed from the 103-pound match.

Warriors freshman Roderick Ayers rolled the Golden Falcons' David Romo onto his back twice during the second period. Each time, Romo slid on his back toward the outer circle to get an out-of-bounds call and regain his composure.

"You can't tell me that 103-pounder (Romo) wasn't pinned twice," said an upset Brown. "You can't slide across the mat like that and not get pinned. That's the worst officiating I've had in the 24 years I've been coaching."

Romo eventually turned Ayers onto his back midway through the third period and recorded a 5-minute, 25-second pin. The victory gave Aycock a commanding 36-21 lead in the team score.

"You have to give Aycock's kid credit," said Brown. "He didn't quit and the referee didn't call (the pin)."

C.B. Aycock collected two additional key wins.

Heavyweight Elvin James Jr., a first-year starter, posted a second-period pin against the Warriors' Zach Myers. Teammate Statton Paris executed a critical third-period reversal and pinned Eastern Wayne senior Cody Britt at 152 pounds.

"You go into the match not wanting to count on first-year starters, but Paris has been a spark for us all year. He's turned it on well as of late and gave us energy ... some heart on the mat tonight," said Aycock head coach Mark Bass. "I can't say enough about Romo and James. They've really come on strong. When you see them perform like they did tonight, it's a big lift for your team."

Each team emerged victorious in six contested matches and each received a forfeit. The Golden Falcons, however, surrendered just three pins compared to six for the Warriors.

"When you cut down on pins, you are going to win more (dual) matches," said Bass. "It's all about staying off your back, wrestling smart and managing your match. All the kids have bought into our coaching style and they're coming around."

Aycock senior Brandon Bailey earned his 100th career victory with a second-period fall over the Warriors' Monroe Simmons. Bailey improved to 39-4 overall this season and extended his win streak to 19 matches.

Fellow seniors Bryan Diorio (215 pounds) and Justin Farrell (119) each collected a pin. Diorio has 34 individual wins this season, while Farrell is 35-6.

"Brandon gave us a good spark out of the gate," said Bass. "He's been strong for us all year and has been a really good leader on the mat. He goes out on the mat and goes to work.

"Bryan and Justin went out strong and got the pins we had to have. They knew they had to get six points and that's what they did."

Eastern Wayne received pins from Zach Hahn (140), senior Mike Pugh (160) and 125-pounder Corbin Harris. The Warriors also got superb efforts from 145-pounder Grant Nix, who earned a 1-0 decision in his first start this season; Cameron Herring (171) and Logan Wicks (189).

Herring drew a third-period escape point on the restart with 18 seconds left against the Golden Falcons' Aaron Foster. He scored the match-clinching takedown with 11 seconds left to cap the comeback.

Wicks scored the final six points, including a fourth-period reversal, to turn back Brandon Thomas 6-4.

The Warriors (8-18 overall) finished 2-2 against Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference opposition this season. The Golden Falcons (21-7) claimed their first league win in three tries and conclude their regular-season slate at home today against Southern Wayne.

"My boys had a lot of heart and tried hard," said Brown. "I was pleased that the kids didn't quit and gutted it out. But it's hard to beat a team and an official, too."

C.B. Aycock 42

Eastern Wayne 33

130 -- Brandon Bailey (CBA) wbf Monroe Simmons, 3:19; 135 -- Zeb Darden (CBA) by forfeit; 140 -- Zach Hahn (EW) wbf Thomas Podbesek, 5:36; 145 -- Grant Nix (EW) dec. Charles Pate, 1-0; 152 -- Statton Paris (CBA) wbf Cody Britt, 4:47; 160 -- Mike Pugh (EW) wbf Kaleb Robinson, 3:09; 171 -- Cameron Herring (EW) dec. Aaron Foster, 10-9; 189 -- Logan Wicks (EW) dec. Brandon Thomas, 6-4; 215 -- Bryan Diorio (CBA) wbf James Barrett, 1:21; Hwt -- Elvin James Jr. (CBA) wbf Zach Myers, 3:18; 103 -- David Romo (CBA) wbf Roderick Ayers, 5:25; 112 -- Josh Hahn (EW) by forfeit; 119 -- Justin Farrell (CBA) wbf Austin Helms, 0:29; 125 -- Corbin Harris (EW) wbf Preston Tucker, 1:43.

Records: C.B. Aycock 21-7, 1-2 Eastern Carolina 3-A; Eastern Wayne 8-18, 2-2

Next match: Today, Southern Wayne at C.B. Aycock